Air India to Fully Restore International Flights by October After AI171 Crash

Air India has now started its wide-body international flight operations after announcing a 15 percent reduction in service cuts post the AI171 crash at Ahmedabad on June 18. Campbell Wilson, CEO, says services would be restored gradually by August 1 and the complete restoration is expected by October 1, 2025.

Due to growing operational limitations, the airline had canceled 83 overseas flights in the six days prior. Alternative travel options, such as a complete refund or a free rebooking, were offered to impacted travelers.

Gradual Resumption for Safety and Reliability

Campbell Wilson said this approach would be measured to ensure thorough checks before normal operation is resumed. "This measured approach ensures we complete every verification thoroughly and resume service with complete confidence," he said. The decision follows weeks of operational collapse that left scores of passengers stranded and caused cancellations and rebookings for free.

Major Route Changes and Additions

• Delhi-Tokyo Haneda: Daily flights expected to start again on August 1.

• Delhi-Seoul Incheon: Upgraded from bi-weekly to five flights a week starting September 1.
• Delhi-Zurich: Increased from four to five flights weekly commencing on August 1.
• Delhi-London Heathrow: Restored to 24 weekly flights starting July 16.

• Ahmedabad-London: Shifting from Gatwick (5 weekly) to Heathrow (3 weekly).
• Amritsar-Birmingham: Initially two flights a week up to August 31, increasing to three from September onwards.

• Delhi-Amsterdam: Restoring normal daily operations from August 1.
• Other routes to Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, and Birmingham remain at reduced operations until the full stabilisation is achieved.

Strengthen Operations after AI171 Crash

A 15 percent reduction in international widebody services came into effect after the crash on June 18, aimed at stabilising operations and prioritising safety. Wilson confirmed the recent challenges facing the airline and gave passengers an assurance of better internal processes to reduce the risk of future disruptions.

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